James Walter Grimes Sr., (who went by Walter) was born 20 October 1869, in Cambridge, Guernsey, Ohio. He was the youngest child and only son of Sarah A. Davis (1842-1898) and James O. Grimes (1822-1890), who was a prominent attorney in Ohio. His maternal aunt, Allie Davis Edwards (1846-1918), was my 2nd great grandmother, which makes him my 1st cousin 3 times removed.

On 9 September 1891 he married Bertha Scott, daughter of Winfield Taylor Scott (1847-?) and Mary Ellen Burt (1849-1906), in Cambridge, Guernsey, Ohio. My 2nd great grandfather, Hugh Barrett Edwards (1835-1908), performed the ceremony. The following article appeared in the 17 September 1891 edition of the Cambridge Jeffersonian newspaper.

Grimes-Scott

J.W. Grimes, son of the late J.O. Grimes, and Miss Bertha Scott, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Scott, were united in marriage last Wednesday evening, at the home of the bride on East Wheeling Avenue. Rev. H.B. Edwards performed the ceremony in the presence of about seventy guests, after which an elegant supper was enjoyed by all.

Those from a distance who were in attendance were: Walter Shipley, and sister Miss Ada Shipley, of Columbus, Ohio; Mr. Will Brown and, sisters, Martha and Mary of Senecaville, Ohio.

The bride wore a beautiful dress of of rose silk with a white corsage, and the groom, of course, wore the conventional black. Many beautiful presents were received.

They will reside with the brides parents during fall and winter. We extend congratulations.

Bertha and Walter found out in December of 1891 that they would become parents around August 1st the of following year. But in June of 1892, on what had begun as a typical summer day, Walter’s life was changed forever. Bertha developed eclampsia and died one month before their baby was due.

Death of Mrs. Bertha Grimes

Last Thursday the friends and relatives of Mrs. Walter Grimes of this place were shocked to learn that she had been taken suddenly and fatally ill. She had been in good health and spirits, and though on arising that morning she had not felt so well as usual, she was but slightly indisposed. About 10 0’clock a.m. she was seized by a severe convulsion, and from then until about five o’clock p.m. she passed from one almost directly into another. A physician was summoned at once upon the attack appearing and he remained with her constantly.

During the time that the convulsions continued it was thought that each would result in death. After five 0’clock, the remedies administered seemed to be producing some effect, for the pulse of the patient became better, and ground for hope was found.

About eleven o’clock in the night, a perfectly formed and well developed female child was born, and from thence onward until about twelve hours later, when she died, the sufferer sank away. The child lived until six o’clock Friday morning, and had she survived, she would have been named Margaret, for her dead grandmother. In the natural course, the child would not have been born until about August 1st, and the immediate cause of death of Mrs. Grimes, as will appear from what has already been stated, was puerperal convulsions, resulting in the premature birth of the child. It is understood that the attending physician does not regard these as having been brought on by any accident or injury. but as having resulted in a constitutional disturbance which was not known beforehand. The case was similar to that of Mrs. Lena White nee McBurnev.

On Sunday afternoon at two o’clock, the funeral services under the direction of Dr. S. Burt, occurred at the house of the grief stricken parents, on Wheeling Ave. Appropriate and beautiful selections were sung by a choir, Rev F.A. Brown and Dr. McFarland, read scripture lessons, Dr. W.V. Milligan and Dr. Burt offered prayer, and touching remarks were made by Rev. L.B. Moore and Rev. H.B. Edwards, of Stuebenville, who had officiated at the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Grimes, September 9, 1891.

The interment was made to Cambridge Cemetery, and though the weather was sultry and rainy, many friends and relatives from a distance attended, and a long concourse followed the remains through the rain to the cemetery. Mother and child were interred in the same casket.

Mrs. Grimes was the only child of Winfield T. Scott and Mary E., daughter of the late William Burt, and was just approaching the 23rd year of her age, having been born January 19 1870. She was vivacious and sprightly in disposition, kind and womanly in manner, and a favorite with all of her friends. Her death coming so unexpectedly and being so nearly tragic in its character, causes sorrow and sympathy throughout the town and vicinity. If the bereavement could be added to by anything beyond the circumstances already indicated, it is made more crushing to the parents by the fact that during last winter Mrs. Margaret Burt, mother of Mrs. Scott, and a loved member of their family, was instantly killed by an accident upon the B. & O. railroad near Monroeville.

Mrs. Scott’s condition since Friday morning has been such as to arouse the greatest concern in the minds of her friends. She was so prostrated, that she has since been unable to leave the home, even to attend the interment.

The newspaper article above makes reference to the death of Margaret Rainey Burt (1827-1891), maternal grandmother of Bertha Scott, in a train accident in November of 1891. It also makes mention of Mary Scott’s (Bertha’s mother) emotional state.

” Mrs. Scott’s condition since Friday morning has been such as to arouse the greatest concern in the minds of her friends. She was so prostrated, that she has since been unable to leave the home, even to attend the interment.”

Mary had lost three of the most important people in her world, quite unexpectedly, in less than 8 months time and under incredibly dramatic circumstances. Her inability to attend the services comes as no surprise.

The following is Margaret’s obituary from the Cambridge (Ohio) Jeffersonian Newspaper dated 22 October 1891.

Death of Mrs. Margaret Burt

Mrs. Margaret Burt, widow of William Burt, who died in Cambridge, May 22nd 1888, was killed in the terrible wreck on the B. & O. railroad at Hicksville. She with her sister, Mrs. Simeon Davis, of Jackson township, this county, was returning from a visit with friends in the west, and they were passengers on the ill-fated train. Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Burt were occupying the same seat in the lady’s car when the crash came. Mrs. Davis was painfully, but not seriously, hurt and is now out of danger and rapidly recovering. Mrs. Burt was so severely crushed about the head and breast as to be rendered unconscious, except to give her name and speak once till death relieved her agony.

The news of the wreck soon reached Cambridge and her son in law, Winfield Scott, Esq., at once started for the scene. He reported the situation and Mrs. Scott and daughter, Mrs. Grimes, hastened to reach the dying woman, but before they arrived, she was dead. the suspense was very great pending the final result, and little else was thought of or talked about in Cambridge until a telegram announced the fatal termination.

Upon the arrival of the train bearing the remains of Mrs. Burt and the injured Mrs. Davis, a large crowd of friends and neighbors were in waiting and escorted the one, and tenderly bore the other upon a stretcher to the residence of Mr. Scott on East Wheeling Avenue, with whom Mrs. Burt resided since her husband’s death. Universal sorrow prevailed, for Mrs. Burt was an amiable and lovely woman, sincerely loved by all who knew her.

Loving hands had prepared the bruised and disfigured form for the casket and many tears were shed by those who gazed upon the cruel wounds that robbed her beautiful features of their wonted comeliness.

The funeral services were largely attended. Rev. L.B. Moore, her pastor, conducted them reading a scripture lesson and delivering a beautiful eulogy upon the life and character of the deceased. Rev. Dr. Milligan led in an appropriate and earnest prayer; Rev. Dr. Burt spoke tenderly and beautifully; the choir of the Baptist church assisted by Mr.s Professor Sarchet sang in an anthem and appropriate hymns and the body was followed to the cemetery near the Cambridge Baptist church where her husband and other deceased relatives lay buried.

Mrs. Burt was a daughter of William and Mary Rainey, late of Jackson township this county; was born in Pennsylvania April 24th, 1827; came with her parents to this county in 1837; married to Wm. Burt, February 21, 1848. To them were born three children: James, who died in infancy; Asbury, who was killed by a boiler explosion east of Cambridge a few years ago, and Mary E., wife of Winfield Scott, who lives in Cambridge. She became a Christian more than forty years ago, was baptized by the venerable Baptist preacher Rev. Hugh Broom. During the past twenty years she was connected with the church in Cambridge an was, as stated by her pastor, “an earnest, outspoken disciple, always in her place in church, deeply and intelligently interested in church work.”

As a wife and mother, she was a model, ever cheerful and exemplary. In youth, she was remarkably beautiful in form and feature, and this grace and loveliness of person were preserved through life, heightened by the dignity and force of an intellect and character of rare excellence, that won and held the love and respect of all with whom she came in contact, as relative, friend, neighbor and Christian.

Mr. Scott desires us to say that the family of Joseph cook, of Hicksville, with whom she was domiciled after the accident, showed every possible kindness and tenderness to her and Mrs. Davis; he says, “they could not have been more kind.”

The marriage of Mr. J.W. Grimes and Miss Mary Green occurred Wednesday at one o’clock a the beautiful country residence of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Green, near Freeport, Harrison county. The impressive but simple marriage ceremony of the M.E. church was performed by Rev. H.B. Edwards, of Cambridge, uncle of the groom. The ceremony was performed in a corner bower of white and green, made from dogwood blossoms, blue and fragrant white lilacs.

The house decorations were beautiful throughout and tastefully arranged; the mantels being banked with white lace and pine; the table decorations consisting of roses and violets; the favors of the occasion being carnations. After receiving the congratulations of the many guests, the entire company was escorted to the spacious dining rooms where an elaborate course dinner was served consisting of choice substantials and dainties.

Mr. and Mrs. Grimes left Freeport on the evening train and came direct to their new home already furnished on Stuebenville Street.

Mrs. Grimes is the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Green, and has lived in Freeport from childhood. She is welcomed to Cambridge society and will become a valuable addition thereto.

Mr. Grimes has grown up from infancy in Cambridge, and is a member of the enterprising hardware firm of Carlisle and Grimes, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. We heartily congratulate the young married couple and bespeak for them a right royal welcome to our city.